Dad Watches Birth on Skype {Operation Special Delivery}

by January Harshe on November 26, 2012

This amazing and beautiful birth story was sent to em by katheJo binder photography. She said, “One of my most favorite birth stories that I have ever been apart of. Dad was in Afghanistan while mom delivered her son. Daddy watched via Skype. I just love this birth story and I think it should be shared with the world! This birth experience was amazing. Mama had a natural, drug free labor and delivery….even in a military hospital.”

“I will never forget receiving that message from Tricia (a local birth doula) asking if I would be interested in donating my services for an Operation Special Delivery. I had never heard of this before, but as the message went on, I read that this expecting mother’s husband was in the Army and was currently serving in Afghanistan. As soon as my eyes ran across those words, I was ‘in’ whole heartedly.

I remember after my firstborn was born. Being a new mama. My life as I knew it was turned upside down. And, my husband was there! He was there in the delivery room, and he was at home with me everyday. But, shortly there after, he was deployed to Iraq. Again, my whole world was turned upside down. Being a new mom, without any answers, away from family…and now husband-less…it was one of the most difficult times in my life. And once I realized that this mama was a first time mama…whose husband was deployed and he wouldn’t be afforded the opportunity to be there with her in the delivery room…or even at home for those first new moments…my heart welled up and I knew that this was something that I needed to do.

So, I agreed to it…and then on the morning of October 19th, I got the call!

Shannon had been laboring at home all night long and was headed to the hospital when I got the phone call. I grabbed what I needed and headed out the door. I really had no clue what to expect. Yes, I have attended a good amount of births this past year, but, they have all included a mommy & daddy and for the most part, other family members or friends. Driving to the hospital was a quiet drive. I thought about all of my births and the moments I cherished the most. I remembered holding my husbands hand and then sobbing together once we finally met our babies. I can’t even imagine, for one minute, going through that on my own. The idea of it made me a little sick to my stomache. And then I got the…”she’s pushing and she’s not going to be pushing for long!” text. So, I sped up and tried to get there as fast as I could. And in military fashion…it was a whole lot of hurry up and wait! Being that this birth was going to happen in a military hospital on a military base, I had to get a base pass…

Once I got the visitor’s center I had to take a number. There were at least 20 people ahead of me. There was no way I was going to make it! I felt so out of control. After a few minutes that felt like hours… I sent a text to Tricia asking her what Shannon’s last name was…and I took control of what I could! I went up to the counter and told them that my sister was in labor and I needed to get there as soon as I could. The lady behind the counter gave me some grief…but, I got my visitors pass and off I went.

I RAN through that hospital. And, it was a long run! I had my camera in my hands by the time I got to Shannon’s delivery room…and good thing I did. Baby Galen was literally, JUST BORN. I threw my bags down and started capturing as much as I could…”